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CU System

CU System briefs (05/07/2010)

* KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (5/10/10)--UT FCU in Knoxville, Tenn., has created an account so members can donate funds for the storm recovery efforts in Middle and West Tennessee. Nashville and Clarksville and other cities were hit with floods after a storm stalled over the Southeast last weekend (The Knoxville News Sentinel (May 7). The credit union said it also will accept donated items such as canned food and water at all its branches to help victims of the flooding. Donated funds will go to the American Red Cross's Disaster Relief Fund. Items donated will go to the Salvation Army in Knoxville for distribution to centers in Nashville, said the newspaper ... * BELLINGHAM, Wash. (5/10/10)--GaPac Community FCU in Bellingham, Wash., has saved the day for the Bellingham Kids' Festival. The $51 million asset credit union signed up for a $10,000 sponsorship for the festival, which will take place after all this summer (The Bellingham Herald May 7). The city's Parks and Recreation Department had announced earlier this spring that the 20-year-old event would be canceled by budget cuts and staff constraints. GaPac Community CEO Katie Zowada, presented the idea to help to her board and received unanimous approval. The event will be the first Saturday in August. Parks department recreation coordinator Cori Kauk told the newspaper: "The community and GaPac stepped up. They've always supported the Kids' Festival. If they didn't step up and take on that sponsorship role, it wouldn't be happening." ... * PENSACOLA, Fla. (5/10/10)--A man entered a Pensacola, Fla., bookkeeping business Tuesday and kidnapped a woman after roughing up her husband and tying him up in an office. Then the robber forced the woman at knifepoint to leave the business and drive to the Pen Air CU, where she was forced to cash a check. A surveillance camera at the credit union captured the robber, wearing a ball cap and talking on a cell phone, standing behind the woman as she cashed the check. They then drove back to the business, where the robber fled with the money. The woman went inside, untied her husband, and called the Sheriff's Office. Deputies had not yet apprehended the man and did not announce the amount stolen (Pensacola News Journal and Escambria.com May 5) ... * DUBLIN, Ohio (5/10/10)--Julia Gee, CEO of Community United CU, Strongsville, Ohio, has been named to the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Credit Union Foundation. She was appointed to a vacant at-large category position. Gee will serve the remainder of the term, which expires in 2013, according to the Ohio Credit Union League (eLumination Newsletter May 5) ...